Anne Rupert, Director, Robinson Orchestra, is a 1989 graduate of the Eastman School of Music where she earned a Bachelor of Music with a double major in Instrumental Music Education and Cello Performance. At Eastman, she studied cello with Steven Doane and was a member of every major performing ensemble including the Heidelberg, Germany Schlosspiele Orchestra. She has completed additional graduate coursework at Duquesne University.  Before her March 1999 appointment as the Music Director and Youth Symphony Orchestra conductor of the Youth Orchestras of Prince William, an ensemble she is still currently conducting, Mrs. Rupert taught for 10 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools where she was the Orchestra Director at Oakton High School, Rachel Carson Middle School and Franklin Middle School. Mrs. Rupert's orchestras consistently received Superior Ratings and Best Overall Orchestra Awards at District and National competitions in Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, Boston, Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, Atlanta, Hershey, Richmond and Williamsburg. In June 2006, Mrs. Rupert made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut when she took the YSO to New York City for a week-long tour culminating in a Gold Rating performance at Carnegie Hall.  Mrs. Rupert is especially pleased to share that she has had 9 of her former Oakton High School students employed as Orchestra Directors in Virginia since their graduations from their respective colleges or universities! Mrs. Rupert is delighted to have returned to teaching in Fairfax County and is especially excited to be here at Robinson Secondary School.

Since 1989 Mrs. Rupert has been a member of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra cello section, has performed frequently as a free-lance cellist in the Washington D.C. Metro Area, has maintained a small private cello studio in her home and has recently been appointed Music Librarian of the FSO. Mrs. Rupert is the 1994 recipient of the American String Teachers Association Virginia Chapter "Outstanding Orchestra Director" Award. Beginning in 1994, Mrs. Rupert has served as guest conductor to many of the Junior and Senior Regional Orchestras across Virginia and North Carolina and has almost annually adjudicated at Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) District Orchestra Festivals across the state. Her other guest conducting engagements include: Levine School of Music, JMU Spring String Thing (1999), University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Summer Music Camp (1994, 1996), Franklin Band and Orchestra Camp (since 1993), and in 2000 she was named Director of Orchestras for the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute held annually at the Catholic University in Washington D.C. Mrs. Rupert holds active memberships with MENC, VMEA, NSOA, ASTA and SAA.

Mrs. Rupert lives in Clifton, VA with her husband Greg and their five sons, Benjamin, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Noah and Michael. She enjoys being an involved mom, Cub Scout leader, violin and cello practice partner, chauffeur and #1 fan when necessary. She thanks you for the opportunity to work with your children in this setting and appreciates your support of music in the public schools.  Mrs. Rupert can be reached at 703-426-2143 or anne.rupert (at) fcps.edu.

Robinson Middle School orchestra director, Betsy (Kerlin) VanBenthuysen, is a Pennsylvania native who found her way to Fairfax County Public Schools in 2001.  Ms. VanBenthuysen primarily studied flute performance at Baldwin-Wallace College and Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music.  Following years of freelancing on both flute and viola, Ms. VanBenthuysen returned to school to study music education and turned her attention toward string pedagogy.
 
Ms. VanBenthuysen currently plays in the McLean Orchestra, Arlington Philharmonic and engages in freelance work in the D.C. metro area.